PSV D2 recorded its eighteenth win of the season last Wednesday night. In Veldhoven, UNA was defeated 1-3 after a difficult first half. PSV already took the championship last Saturday and now focuses on the last two league games of the season; Saturday at home against Den Bosch and a week later also at the Herdgang against DESK.
Wednesday night there is some excitement only after ten minutes. A strong starting UNA sees a quick breakthrough end up next to Aaron van Engelen's goal. PSV answers that first action with a delightful solo by Dante Rigo who slaloms past three men, but eventually sees the ball end up in the goalkeeper's hands. Dante's action does not turn the game around. PSV struggled to break through the UNA defense, worked hard (Jeroen Swinkels again leading the way), but lacked sharpness in their actions. So it is perhaps not surprising that the next chance is for UNA. A strange tangle ball resulting from another breakout by the Veldhoven players is 'looked over' by Aaron. Moments later Koen Vos intervenes well on another quick counter and in the seventeenth minute UNA gets a free kick that fortunately for PSV goes far wide. A good phase for UNA in which PSV cannot do much in return. Until the 23rd minute, the PSV supporters have to wait for a noteworthy action for Twan Scheepers' team. And it is a good one. Via Dante and Joey Konings, the sprinting Zohair Labyad is put in position. Eye to eye with the goalkeeper, however, the now 12-year-old Zohair falls just short. Then it is UNA that puts Aaron to the test once more, but just before time it looks like PSV takes the lead after all. Mink Peeters runs well towards the UNA goal after a pass from Dante and passes the goalkeeper on the right. The ball seemed to just roll into the goal, but Mats Grotenbreg (unaware of being offside), tapped the ball at the last moment. The otherwise well-managing referee can do nothing but disallow the goal. UNA and PSV seem to be 0-0 at the break, were it not for the fact that just before time, UNA shoots a cross ball past Aaron and, perhaps not unjustly, takes the lead: 1-0.
After the break, there is a different PSV on the pitch. Not only have players been substituted, the line-up has been completely changed. That approach seems to work. Already after two minutes, Ymanuel Hurkmans reaches Giovanni Nicolaas. Gio crossed from the penalty area to Ertem Bölükbas, who beat the UNA goalkeeper beautifully. This tying goal was the turning point in the match, because from that moment on a brighter PSV put a lot of pressure on the UNA goal. After some small chances, it is Cody Gakpo who cleverly lures an army of players on the right and eventually pounces on the UNA goalkeeper. From that moment on, the PSV fans saw a fast and fun match. Gio sent in a pass from Cody and in the eleventh minute the same Cody, after a free kick from Dante, set free the good sprinting Joey who shot hard: 1-2. UNA did not give up though. From a rebound after a corner a few minutes after Joey's goal, an excellent shot is taken from about twenty meters, but the tight shot is formidably boxed out of his goal by Aaron. From a free kick by Ties van den Eijnde, the 1-3 is finally scored. Via an opponent, the free kick gets an extension and Mats is able to head backwards. PSV then doesn't come in any more danger themselves. Ymanuel Hurkmans and Roel van Linschoten hardly give away any space in the back, while in front the chances keep coming. Via Twan Demin and Cody some dangerous situations arise and Matthias Verreth is also close to a goal with a ball on the post. The game ended with a good cross from Mats that ended up with Matthias. The Belgian hits the ball with the tip of his foot, but a fourth goal is out of the question.
PSV wins again and that is how it should be for a champion's team. Saturday awaits the last real challenge of the season against a strong performing Den Bosch that can still finish behind PSV.